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Jan. 9, 2000 -- NEW YORK (AmpolNS) -- Our Pundit Pap team was very shorthanded this week. Nonetheless, we were able to catch a bit of all the major politi-blabber shows.
Fox News Sunday
One-on-one with Bradley
We caught the first half of FNS and Tony Snow's wide-ranging interview with Bill Bradley in Iowa -- the highlight of this Pundit Sunday.
Kudos to the Fox bookers -- and to Tony for covering such a huge range of issues. Even if we think Tony's "fair and balanced" politics are a bit too conservative for comfort, he's almost always the best Sunday interviewer by a large margin, even on an off day.
Tony first tried to get Bill to say that Al Gore has no leadership ability -- and Bradley would not play that, saying instead that he, Bradley, was better qualified.
Bradley tried to claim his campaign is positive, saying he wanted to talk about "what I am for, not what I am against."
Tony: "Can Al Gore take credit for the economy?" Bill said no, the President takes credit.
But they're both wrong; it's not any president alone who dictates the health of an economy. There was no wind in the sails of Tony's question, which was an attempt to allude to Gore having allegedly taken credit for the Internet, Love Story and Love Canal (none of which he really did, Tony, and you know it when you try to twist and parse words).
Tony predictable asked Bill about Al's comment that Clinton was one of the greatest presidents, giving Bill a wide berth to say "no" -- but Bradley did not bring up private life matters.
Tony asked Bill if he could think of a social program that America is spending too little on. On Medicaid and Social Security specifically, Bill said no, but the real question, he argued, is what to do with more money in times of prosperity. He then said that we should strengthen "social foundations" i.e. the family. Tony, again predictably, said, well, why not give that money back to families in the form of lower taxes? Bill argued that the surplus should be used as an investment in society. Tony, again showing his tax-hawk supply-sider side, asked about "shoveling money" into programs like the "war on poverty" -- opening the door for Bradley to discuss health care and the suggestion that the three legs of our society -- private sector, government and communities -- team up to do what they do best to fix the health care system.
Yes, it confused us -- and even Tony had to ask if anyone could understand Bill's health plan. We sure don't! Bill claimed that the poor would get the equivalent of a tax cut. When Tony harped on the tired old "transferring money from the rich to poor" lament, we thought to ourselves, "hey, it bolsters health and productivity, so what's the big problem?" But Bradley, rather than tearing down Tony's straw man, said that Tony essentially could look at it that way if he liked. Not a very intelligent answer, Bill!
Bradley talked about his health "plan" in more detail -- but the hypotheticals and vagaries left us scratching our heads.
"Is Al Gore lying about your record?" Bill said Al was misrepresenting it -- but then launched into a "you can't predict the future" speech, saying that no one in 1905 could predict 1915 as an example, then talking about tech reviving the economy.
Following commercials for BuSpar (a mood elevator from Bristol-Myers Squibb, who are not billed in the ad), Philip Morris (trying to make us think they're good citizens by getting drinking water to flood victims while they peddle their addictive and lethal products with impunity), and Fox shows, the interview continued.
Tony wanted to talk about the "personal" things people say about him -- then asked why Bradley opposed a flood relief bill in 1993 -- a bill over which he was attacked during yesterday's Iowa debate. Bill clarified -- he had voted no on a bad amendment -- and Tony even admitted there was the pork in the bill!
Bill also expressed "surprise" that Christy Whitman had said tough things about Bradley's aloofness by not returning to his own state after storm damage -- when he was an announced Presidential candidate. Bradley: "Her candidness disarms me." Ouch! "I'm a candidate for President, I'm not representing New Jersey." He essentially said it would be unseemly to take political advantage of a disaster when he was not their representative in Washington anymore.
Tony then quoted noted political thinker Donald Trump -- who said Bradley is as "phony as a $20 Rolex." Bradley pointed out that he voted against key legislation which would have benefitted casino owned Trump -- in other words, sour grapes from Mr. Trump.
Should the Reform Party be in the debates? Bradley said it should be up to the election commission. Pat Buchanan will love that answer... not.
Tony then tried to play gotcha with Bill's votes on tax increases, trying to cast him as a tax-and-spender. Bill said he was a "tax reformer" trying to relieve poor and middle class taxpayers. What about the marriage penalty? Bill avoided an answer, instead saying that states have been raising taxes -- and that he wants to make it a federal, not state, responsibility to help the poor with health care. If economic growth and surpluses continued, he added, then and only then might it be time to talk tax cuts.
Tony turned to teacher pay, and Bill said that's up to local districts -- but teachers should be paid more and be shown respect. What does that mean? Recognize them for their contribution, said Bradley. Tony: "You think they're not being recognized?"
Good grief -- Tony, for all his talent as a fast-on-his-feet questioner, is out of touch. Teachers get only slightly more respect than sales clerks in today's fast-buck, me-first, cheap-shot, screw-you society.
And Bill made Tony's slanted question look pretty bad, saying that Fox should give awards for outstanding teachers.
Hey, Bill -- the problem is the awards would only go to teachers in stealth theocratic charter schools!
But Bill did talk about the challenge of finding and keeping teachers. Should it be easier to fire bad teachers? Yes, said Bill -- as long as parents and pols are willing to work with the unions!
Spots for Relenza, Men's Wearhouse, and the hilarious Jackie Chan ad for TDWaterhouse.com preceded the final segment of the interview.
The panel -- Brit Hume, Mara Liasson, and Juan Williams -- joined the questioning. Hume jumped on the so-called 1993 "tax increase" as an anti-deficit measure, but Bradley had voted for 1986 tax cuts -- was the reason a Democratic president instead of deficit fighting? Bradley acknowledged that it was a party-related move, but said it was a sound move. Hume, the fool, said tax rates went up in 1991 -- and Bradley correctly pointed out that these were marginal increases only. On balance, he said, it was more important to attack the deficit in 1993.
Bradley also attacked defining corporate welfare as "spending" and un-spun favorite hard-right "definitions" of "tax cuts" and "tax increases" that turn out to be figure-fudging smoke and mirrors.
Mara asked a rambling question about an anti-Gore negative ad. Bradley cast the spot in question as a positive ad, and Mara shifted to gun control issues. Bradley predicted more school shootings if there is no reform. This is unusual for Bradley -- fear mongering -- but he may be right. Tony then asked, "Isn't school violence down?" Bradley essentially said that the media (i.e. Fox -- attention Mr. Ailes...) contributed to high-profile school violence There was some predictable pap on guns from both sides -- but Bradley explained gun licensing, arguing that it is an intelligent crimefighting idea.
Juan said that there is criticism of Bradley not addressing foreign policy and that Bradley "opposed" intervention against Saddam Hussein. Bradley pointed out that he supported it -- but voted against a bill he felt inappropriate. He did support and vote for intervention in Bosnia, he added, because he felt it was appropriate -- but also said the peace has not been won yet in Kosovo.
Juan then asked about gays in the military, but more importantly (for Fox) whether Bill feels Al bungled the issue with his stand and clarification (which Juan called a reversal). Bradley talked about his position, not Al's travails -- when the President issues an order, it should be followed. Tony: "Even when it countermands the code of conduct?" Bradley deflated Tony's snide comment by pointing out these changes are not done in a vacuum -- but in consultation with military leaders.
Tony turned to the topic of Donna Brazile's "controversial" (try fully justified, Tony) claim that that the GOP has no plans for Black Americans. Bradley said that he's heard nothing specific articulated and implied that the GOP is counting on a good economy to help them.
But then, Bill, so are the Dems.
Final question -- when will Bradley's full medical records be available? Bradley said he had released his latest physical. Tony: "So the final word is he's tanned, rested and ready!"
Hey, Tony, our own Dave "Doctor" Gonzo was wearing a t-shirt this morning that reads "He's tanned, rested and ready -- Nixon in '92!" Are you psychic?
| To: The Editors From: Cesar Romero-Retes Since you guys missed the first half of This Weak, as you choose to call that dumbass program, here is what went down: First up to bat was Rep. Dan Burton, who was there to sell his subpoena of Elian Gonzalez. The scumbag actually acknowledged that the subpoena is a political move to stop the deportation on January 14, 2000! He refused to answer whether or not the subpoena is even legal (it is not) and sang the old, boring and false "America is the best country in the world for this little boy to live in" song! Argghhhhh. He also threatened to subpoena the INS and force them to explain to Congress how they arrived at the decision to deport the child without a due process hearing. He sat there with a smirk on his face a la George Bush, like the scumbag he is, laughing at America because he pulled a fast one and will get away with it...so he thinks. Corky asked him if the Republikans were playing a political game. Duuuuh, Corky! Of course, he did not answer the question, and Corky did not press That Burton scumbag should be removed from public office -- basically he lied lied LIED the entire time he was on camera. Ooh yeah, uhm, uh, must be the compassionate part of the deal that women are clinging to. E. Dole claimed that 2/3 of the women in Texas voted for GWBush in his second term. Again, she did not credit anyone with that source of information, so who knows where she got that from! Since You go gurll! It was the same boring fake "Fags can't fight" argument from the right -- because they claim it will impact "morale" in the battlefields. The lesbian's position basically summed up by "I can kick ass better than any enlisted man period " -- not in so many words, of course, but boy, she was cool. Fred Barnes quoted some statistic about more men are being dismissed from the military because they come out to be gay. They get some minor slap in the hand and then get to go home to daddy I guess. He then implied that straight males are using the DADT law to leave the military in droves. Heeheeheehee -- must be rough. Why would hetero boys from Iowa deflect to the DADT gismo to get out of the military and go home to tell momma they got a gay deferment? Being branded a fag by the military is not politically correct, George. Cammermeyer responded to that with an example of how straight females would get pregnant after they enlisted because the Military bars women with families from service. There were some clips on Gore and his statements regarding his appointment of members of the Joint Chief of Staff who support his position of gays serving openly in the Military and another one where he supposedly "recanted" his position. Both clips were incomplete and obviously selected to place Gore in a bad light. Next was a clip from the Republikan Debate in which the candidates expressed their opposition to Gore's plan. Only GWBush was shown on camera saying "I am for don't ask don't tell" with a smirk. Message to the Log Cabin from GBush : Queers are not wanted here.
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With the Bradley interview concluded, we channel-surfed to ABC so that we could catch a little of This Weak's roundtable -- just in to catch smarmy blackshirt George Swill leaking the news that some anti-abortion organization is going to run radio ads attacking John McCain for allegedly telling jokes about elderly people with Alzheimers or some similar ailment. Swill must fancy himself a sort of Matt Drudge with migraines. If so, we suggest he get a web site. Scam Donaldson , trying to sound wise, said that it was "inevitable" that McCain "would hit a rough patch." George Staphylococcus suggested that it was a ploy to make him look anti-abortion.
Huh? What a fool Staph has become of late -- the sponsors are a group more likely to be in bed with Little Satan Bauer (who is running on the abortion issue) but probablyrelying on oppo research that would most benefit the Bush Baby.
Croaky Roberts then played an anti-Gore commercial lying about a so-called "litmus test" on gays that neither Colin Powell and Norm Schwarzkopf -- two of the most overhyped military figures in recent history -- would supposedly "pass." It's completely misleading -- and ends with an 800 number so that you can call Al Gore and complain.
Neofascist Will criticized Major League Baseball for forcing John Rocker to get therapy he needs for being a fool with a big mouth and spouting strident racist rhetoric in an interview with Sports Illustrated. We say a firing and ban from baseball would serve him better than therapy. Will slammed therapy as some sort of "liberal" plot.
Watching these four goons ois sort of like watching Ionescu with a hangover. Never in the history of pundit TV has a more contemptible, self-important, misguided, misguiding and contemptible panel of imbecile "experts" been assembled.
ABC would be wise to burn down the set, fire the producres, and fire the four This Weak loudmouths -- not just from This Weak, but from the network.
Our advice: put Jack Ford on as host of This Weak, get Bill Kristol back as their guy "from the right," and find someone young, funny and fast on their feet (maybe Stephanie Miller?) "from the left." Disney would probably be able to cut This Weak's budget by at least 60% -- and their ratings would triple
...that is, if they are smart enough to recognize that the show stinks like a week-old fish, viewers are tuning out, and ratings are burning out with the current cast of idiots.
The McLaughIn Group
John Calms Down with Putin Pap -- Is He On Prozac??
Issue one -- Vladimir Putin: International Man of Mystery! We were half expecting Tony Blankley to shout "Yeah, baby!" a la Austin Powers. John cast Putin as an unpredictable unknown who quickly took charge -- and as a shoo-in for President because of his stewardship over the popular war with Chechnya. John contrasted those saying he is authoritarian with his support from -- and for -- reformers. John also quoted a quote from Putin which he flashed on the screen with the title "Better Dead Than Red".
One of John's guests, Larry Kudlow, worked with a Putin supporter -- Iegor Gaidar. Kudlow feels the verdict is out on Putin, even though "he has to tighten the screws on kleptocrats." Eleanor Clift said it was time to "pull out the old Reagan chestnut -- 'trust but verify.'" She called Putin a "colorless authoritarian." John: "He looks ruthless, does he not." Oooooh -- how scary! Tony Blankley talked about Putin's support for higher education and reinforcing Russia's social infrastructure -- and we still half-expected him to yell "Yeah, baby!". Jim Warren cast Putin as shadowy, saying that the bottom line is that Putin has few alternatives, and has to come begging to the US.
How will Chechnya affect Putin? Kudlow said if it fails, it's bad news for Putin. He also said that Putin is like a bond trader -- he'll but hot issues, cut loose cold ones. The panel was split on how he'll do along predictable lines.
Issue two: "Greenspan, you the man!" But John forecast economic doom -- citing stock experts predicting a 20% correction. John tried to imply that such a drop would be Greenspan's fault. Kudlow said that Greenspan acts like a man who believes in the economy one day, and disses it on others.
Hey Larry -- maybe Greenspan is the real "International Man of Mystery" -- but you'd have to ask Andrea Mitchell if she's making sure Alan gets enough "irrational exuberance." Does she put the "grrrr" in "swinger" Greenspan?
Stock predictions: Kudlow puts the Dow Jones at 50,000 by the end of the decade; Eleanor sees t hovering around 10,000; Warren says 12,000; John sees 9,000.
Issue three: "The Mean Season." John cast the primary cycle as swift, savage and happening so quickly that hardly anyone will notice. He motormouthed the election calendar, but you can take your time by clicking here. There was also some blabbering concerning the barring of the nutcase-ridden Reform Party from Presidential debates -- so that John could show footage of former McLaugh-In stalwart Pat Buchanan whining about his newfound party being left out of the mix! Warren pointed out that a party can get matching funds for getting 5% of the popular vote, while the debate commission has set a 15% benchmark.
What amazed us most: John seemed almost sane and on an even keel throughout the half-hour. Is he on Prozac?
Eat the Press
Starring Presidential Candidate Tim Russert
In the aftermath of Alan Keyes' comment that Tim Russert should declare his candidacy for President, we tuned in the first segment of Eat the Press to witness Russert talking campaign politics, first with Gore campaign player Bob Shrum and Bradley booster Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY).
Russert targeted Gore's "litmus test" first -- then put the headline from a misleading New York Times article that would make you believe that Gore retracted his statement. The story itself came across as slanted and the headline misrepresented the facts of the controversy. But remember -- this is the same paper that has refused to retract factually incorrect and inaccurate reporting on Whitewater It's the New New York Times -- just another right-wing rag. Don't expect a correction.
Shrum said that Gore had not retracted or flip-flopped. Nadler said there is nothing wrong with making a mistake and flip-flopping (i.e. Gore did flip-flop). Shrum had to correct Russert's implication and Nadler's assertion.
Nadler said that Bradley would make a better candidate "because he doesn't have the baggage... unfairly but realistically."
Russert, like a crack addict who suddenly sees a couple "rocks" being dangled in his face, jumped at the bait: "What baggage?"
Hey Russert, here's the correct answer: the baggage you helped fabricate by reporting unvetted rumors about the White House -- and then having to retract them.
Shrum said that Bradley's numbers are dropping -- quoting the ever (not) reliable Newsweek which printed a Bradley supporter's comment that Bradley could run better than Gore. But Nadler said that Bradley would do better against Bush. Shrum jumped in: "No, he is not!!" Russert backed off and let Nadler and Shrum mix it up on health care. Shrum jumped down Nadler's throat on the hypothetical premium for Bradley's plan, saying that "You're throwing people off Medicaid!" Nadler: "They're not on Medicaid."
It was one of the testiest exchanges we've seen on Eat the Press in well over a year. You'd think Shrum and Nadler were presidentaial candidates! And it was refreshing to see two Democrat players making a very wonkish issue -- how to finance health care -- sound like a hot topic.
Russert: "The Democratic party is divided badly over Bradley and Gore." Hilarious! We've never heard Russert say word one about the very real and arguably more volatile divisiveness within the GOP: Bush v. McCain is heating up, opposition tactics could turn that race very ugly very fast, and there's also worry over the possible Buchanan "siphoning" factor.
But no. Russert would rather spend his time casting Democrats as the party of divisiveness and oral sex "baggage."
This man is an embarrassment to NBC, and does not deserve a forum to push his opinions.
After the break, Tim welcomed two minor-league congressional supporters of the top GOP presidential candidates, anti-Clinton pol (also well known for dating Laura Ingraham, by the way) Rep. Lindsey Graham, who is a McCain supporter, and Bush man Rep. Judd Gregg (R-NH).
Russert started by playing a negative campaign ad. Yawn.
Gregg talked about Bush bringing a "positive message" and being strong on education. What a fool -- Texas' education record has worsened by many measures under the Bush regime.
Tim asked Graham about McCain "playing class warfare." What McCain had said is that 60% of the Bush tax plan's cuts go to the richest 10% of Americans. Graham wussed out -- talking about McCain's approach to saving surpluses, when he should have told off Russert for playing weasel-word games with the facts.
The segment was not quite as bad as Russert's gerrymandering of the GOP debate a few days ago -- Graham and Gregg were civil, focusing on their candidates' positions on taxes and the surplus. But the wonkspeak got a little boring.
And the highest-profile guest NBC was able to book was the fast-talking, erudite, and in Tim's words "shrewd... [and] openly gay" Rep. Barney Frank ("I'd describe myself as shrewdy gay, Tim.."), who debated gays in the military with a general whose name we did not catch.
Can't NBC book more dynamic GOP and Democrat guests -- or might it be that the big players who aren't already Eat the Press stalwarts like Frank starting to shun Tim? After Tim's breathtaking tampering with the GOP's debate and campaign process, it would not surprise us one bit.